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Thursday, July 21

Day 6

Our squads put in alot of hard work today to try to get their jobs done! It was record breaking heat today in the area. It was about 99 degrees with heat index in the 100's, which is hotter than its been in this area in over 20 years! Some of the churches that came north to escape the heat were a little dumbfounded, needless to say :) Everyone is pulling together to try and get all the jobs done. Luckily, nobody was seriously injured and everyone survived the heat.

Everyone came back around 4 and got to shower and rest up a little before supper. After supper, the band kicked us off with some loud fun music to get everybody excited! We had a few local people join the band tonight, so it was really rocking. Tonight's message was all about being Grounded in Accountability. Our last song was "Rescue," so Darrell asked everyone to write down on a piece of paper a "pet sin" that they have, or in other words, a sin that they have trouble with in their life. Then he talked about the importance of having a person you can talk to about your sin to hold you liable to trying to walk a daily walk with God.

Tomorrow is the last work day for our squads! Pray that everyone can stay safe and get their jobs done!

Wednesday, July 20

Day 5

It is getting hotter and hotter everyday here in Elyria, OH! Luckily, our squads had just a half day of work and came back to the school after lunch. Everyone got showered up and hit the town for a night off! Some groups went to a local wing place to eat all-you-can-eat wings, some groups went to the beach on Lake Erie. A few visited Cleveland, which is about 20 miles away, to sight see. Everyone had a great time and got to relax a little. Tomorrow it's back to the long haul on the work sites. And it's supposed to be even hotter, so keep our workers in your prayers. Want to send some encouragement? Click here.

Tuesday, July 19

Day 4

Another hard day of work is in the bag in Elyria, OH! It was even hotter today as the squads roofed, painted, and more. When the workers returned, we had a cookout of hamburgers and hot dogs for supper! Tonight we had the youth groups do their devotions before worship. Then everyone entered back into the cafeteria/worship center for the concert of prayer. It was about 9:00 pm so the room was dark and dimly lit with candles. The band was hidden behind the curtain onstage. There were 5 stations set up for each youth group to separate. Each section had a table with candles in the middle. The squads were asked to make crosses out of miscellaneous things at their worksites, so tonight they decorated their tables with the crosses.

First, the students were asked to focus on the cross and the band led us in songs about the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Then we went into a time of prayer and confession of things in our life that stand in the way of our relationship with Jesus. The students wrote down these things on black paper, so nobody could see what it said. Then we focused on offering time. This year's offering will go to Alabama tornado disaster relief. The groups had given their offering to their leaders beforehand and put it all together in a nail apron. Each table also had a posterboard with pictures of tornado devastation on it. The leaders brought the offering to the tables as we prayed over it. Lastly, we focused on service. Each group leader washed the feet of their students. Darrell read from Romans 12:1

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."

At the end, we all had the chance to celebrate as we got up and danced to "Undignified." It was so much fun! Someone even praised so hard that he sprained his ankle!

Tomorrow is the half day of the week! So everyone will get a chance to relax and have some fun!


Monday, July 18

Day 3

Today was the first day of work for our squads! Luckily, the weather was very nice, but a little hot for these parts. We have 17 work sites this week for 15 squads. Our squads got a lot of good work started today and hopefully the weather will hold off the rest of the week. There are 11 roofing sites and a few paint and siding sites.

Tonight's worship was all about being Grounded in your calling. Our scripture was from 2 Timothy 1:8-14

"8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."

Darrell talked about our calling to a holy life, and how we must strive to be perfectly holy like Jesus. We also heard from a volunteer staff member named Jesse, who was saved 3 years ago and shortly thereafter answered God's call in her life to go to Africa for a semester. At the end of the message, the students were invited to come to the altar to 7 pieces of paper that had the name of the continents on each. If they felt God was calling them to serve somewhere eventually, they wrote their names on the continent and then prayed over it. It was amazing to see all the students who came forward to answer God's call.

Tomorrow is another long day of work for our squads, but hopefully it will be a little cooler! Don't forget to send some mail to your favorite participants!

 

Sunday, July 17

Day 2

Today we had a day of fellowship at local churches together! Each squad travelled together to one of 3 churches in the area. After they worshiped, the churches fed them lunch. Then each squad travelled to their work site to check it out before they start work tomorrow. When everyone returned we had squad position training for the breakmasters, medics, chaplains, and squad leaders to prepare them for their jobs this week. Then we travelled outside to the football field to take our large group photo!

Tonight's worship started off great with the song "O Happy Day" from the band, which got everybody excited. Then Darrell invited people to share wow moments from their day at church. After a few more songs, Darrell's message prepared everyone for the work week ahead. He asked some veteran construction captains to give advice to first-timers. He did a great job of getting everyone involved in worship. He talked to the workers about being smart and "sober-minded" this week while on the sites. One special thing about the jobs this week is that some of the houses are very nice. In fact, alot of them are probably nicer than the houses we live in. Darrell told the squads that they might wonder why we are working on these houses in the first place. But he challenged them to prepare their hearts and trust God that they are there for a reason. God may have placed them there in order to witness to somebody.

Tomorrow is the first workday! Pray for the safety of our squads and that they can get a lot of work done! If you would like to send a participant some mail, click here!

Saturday, July 16

Day 1

We have arrived in Elyria, OH! There are 5 churches here from Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Illinois. Today was all about getting everyone settled into their rooms at the elementary school and making sure they know where everything is. The kids had orientation with the band and got to play some messy games, including a tabasco chug! This was a great opportunity for everyone to meet each other. The adults went over the schedule for the week and got all the info about the work sites.

After we ate pizza for supper we had our first worship of the project! Our band is Kevin and Jordyn Boyer from Wetumpka, AL. Darrell spoke on being Grounded in Love. The youth pastor from Darrell's church, Toby, also spoke along side Darrell. It was a special service because Darrell let us know that the last time he spoke in this school, it was at a funeral 5 weeks ago. A family from Darrell's church, the Tomasheski's, were hit head on in their car by a drunk driver. The mother, Tammy,  and 11 year old son, Tommy, were killed, and Tom, the father, and his daughter, Danielle, are still in the hospital. Darrell spoke about being intimidated by the fact that he was speaking in that room again. But he used the situation to talk about being empowered by God even when we think we can't go on. We had a special prayer time for Tom and his family after the message.

After worship, the squads got together and met each other. They each chose a medic, a breakmaster, and a chaplain for the week. Tomorrow, each squad will go to a local church together and eat lunch there as well. Then they will get an opportunity to viist their worksite for the week. We are excited to be in Elyria this week!

 

 

Mission Serve is coming to Elyria for this first time in 2011.  This suburb of Cleveland is a fast growing area with a lot of ministry opportunities. Mission Serve will be partnering with Chestnut Ridege Baptist Church and the city of Elyria to rehabilitate homes.  Darrell Myers, who has coordinated several projects for Mission Serve and is the pastor of Chestnut Ridge BC, will serve as the Project Coordinator and speaker for this project.  Darrell and his team do a wonderful job.  The Kevin Fowler band from Michigan will be leading us in worship.  This is a great project for groups looking to help Mission Serve make our first impact on this community.  For more information call 1888-421-4408 or info@mission-serve.com

Cost:$260

Project Coordinator

Darrell Myers
440-213-7133
dmyers@mycrbc.org

Construction Coordinator
Marshall Hyer

Lodging
North Midview Elementart School

Speaker
Darrell Myers

Band
The Kevin Fowler Band

Spots Available
This project is closed